TUESDAY TUNES | HOWLIN WOLF | SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING ’64

CHESTER ARTHUR BURNETT known as HOWLIN’ WOLF. Born on June 10 1910, in White Station, Mississippi was an influential American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player. With a booming voice and looming physical presence, he is one of the best-known Chicago blues artists.

He was named Chester Arthur Burnett, after Chester A. Arthur, the 21st President of the United States. His physique garnered him the nicknames of Big Foot Chester and Bull Cow as a young man: he was 6 feet 3 inches [191 cm] tall and often weighed close to 275 pounds [125 kg].

He explained the origin of the name Howlin’ Wolf: “I got that from my grandfather”, who would often tell him stories about the wolves in that part of the country and warn him that if he misbehaved then the “howling wolves would get him”.

Musician and critic Cub Koda noted, “No one could match Howlin’ Wolf for the singular ability to rock the house down to the foundation while simultaneously scaring its patrons out of its wits”.

Producer Sam Phillips added “When I heard Howlin’ Wolf, I said ‘This is it for me. This is where the soul of man never dies'”